All questions about Rheumatoid arthritis

Why are they so tired?

Fatigue is one of the most common and disabling symptoms of RA. It's more than tiredness and isn't always relieved by sleep.

In a 2014 survey by a UK patient charity, 89% reported fatigue, and 40% of those had persistent, severe fatigue. Fatigue can get worse just before a flare. If it's getting hard to manage, tell the rheumatology team. The tiredness that comes with these conditions is not the tiredness everyone knows after a long week. Many people describe it as heavy, like a battery that won't charge, or like moving through water, and it isn't fixed by a night's sleep or a lie-in. It can be as limiting as the pain.

Sources

• NRAS: Fatigue (cites the 2014 NRAS member survey)
• NRAS: Managing RA symptoms and flares
• NHS: Rheumatoid arthritis, symptoms

Reviewed 2026-11-09 · next review 2027-11-09